“California should not distinguish itself as the enemy of innovation. We continue to be concerned about how regulations are being justified and supported by the California Energy Commission,” said Gary Shapiro, president and CEO, CEA. “The CEC’s approach, which focuses on setting artificial limits on consumer products, threatens to stifle innovation and economic growth within an industry already on the vanguard of energy efficiency. CEA supports programs defining energy usage consistently and conveying such information to consumers.

“Moreover, we embrace and sell the majority of products certified as meeting the voluntary standards of ENERGY STAR. Our nation’s need for innovation in leading areas like IT, the Internet, the cloud, entertainment and broadband may be threatened by technology mandates based on flawed justifications, as we have witnessed in three CEC rulemakings to date. We urge the state to work with us on proven approaches to sustainability, such as encouraging innovation in the field of eCycling, meeting green product standards, and educating policymakers and consumers alike on energy efficiency trends and savings opportunities.”

EDITOR’S NOTE: For more background on this issue, please read the following news releases:

The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) is the preeminent trade association promoting growth in the $195 billion U.S. consumer electronics industry. More than 2,000 companies enjoy the benefits of CEA membership, including legislative advocacy, market research, technical training and education, industry promotion, standards development and the fostering of business and strategic relationships. CEA also owns and produces the International CES – The Global Stage for Innovation. All profits from CES are reinvested into CEA’s industry services. Find CEA online at www.CE.org, www.DeclareInnovation.com and through social media: .